Soup and Smut

It is supposedly winter though you couldn't tell today at 81 degrees. So of course when it's summer-like outside the first thing I think of making is a steaming pot of homemade soup. It may not have fit today's weather but it was perfect. Hearty veggie packed soups like this just plain rock. I feel good eating them.

Shelly's Homemade Minestrone-ish Soup

1 Yellow Onion, diced
4 Green Onion, diced
4 cloves Garlic, sliced
2 Zucchini, sliced
3 cups Kale
1 cup Pico de Gallo (found in the refrigerated section near salsa)
3 cups Vegetable Juice (I use Knudsen's Very Veggie)
2 cups Chicken Broth
a few twists of Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
10 Turkey Meatballs (homemade or my favorite frozen cheater ones)
Grated Parmesan
Olive oil for sauteing

Saute onions till golden. Add zucchini and garlic and saute just till zucchini gets a little color about 5 minutes. Add all remaining ingredients except meatballs.

Cook covered on low for 1 hour. Add meatballs and cook 1/2 hour more. The meatballs will fall apart. You want this. Serve topped with a snowfall of grated Parmesan. This is even better cooked and heated up the next day. I also freeze half the batch so I can have an easy meal when I just don't feel like cooking.

Highlights of the Day:

* You know that Health Fair I went to with my Mum on Saturday. Well she got a call today that she won a door prize... Woot. It was a One Hour Massage which she promptly gave to her loving daughter. She doesn't do the massage thing. Something about getting naked. I like getting naked ;)

* My pal Cassie sending me jokes on my cell phone today most of which were too dirty to repeat. Thanks for making me laugh out loud today crazy girl.

* Right now. Sipping a cup of Candy Cane Cocoa. Listening to music. Planning some crazy cooking experiments. I hit Trader Joe's and Henry's today and got some supplies so watch out the mad scientist lab is open for business.

Listening to: "Come On Get Higher" Matt Nathanson